Question:

In order to analyze issues with CANoe/CANalyzer's diagnostic features, the Vector support team asked me to create log files. How can I create the internal diagnostic log files (DTL logs) in CANoe/CANalyzer's for a further analysis?

Answer:

The creation of the log files depends on the execution mode:

A) CANoe is running in normal mode 

B) CANoe is running in distributed mode
    1.  Activate the internal diagnostic logging according to the used CANoe version
        1.1. For CANoe 18 or newer
        1.2. For CANoe until 17 SP5
    2. Update the modified configuration file onto the RT Rack /VT System
    3. Reproduce the error situation
    4. Deactivate the internal diagnostic logging

A) If CANoe is running in normal mode (not distributed with e.g. VN89xx interface or RT Rack / VT System)

• Close all open CANoe/CANalyzer processes.
• Since CANoe/CANalyzer version 16 the Vector Tool Manager (for CANoe/CANalyzer, vTESTstudio and vVIRTUALtarget) is additionally installed.
  Open the Vector Tool Manager from the Windows start menu (if you do not have CANoe/CANalyzer 16 installed, you can download the Vector Tool Manager from here).
• Open the CAN.ini file for the corresponding CANoe/CANalyzer version via the context menu Edit .ini files | Edit CAN.ini.
  
• Search for the section [Diagnostics] in the CAN.ini.
• If there is no section [Diagnostics] in the CAN.ini yet, add the following part at the end of the CAN.ini file:

[Diagnostics]
; Set the location of the log file for Anlyz
DTLLogFile=D:\DTLAnlyzLog.txt
; the RT path must be valid also on the VN891x
DTLLogFileRT=D:\DTLRTLog.txt
; Detailed logging configuration is available to RT only at the moment!
; Logging level, default 2 (Info)
DTLLogLevelRT=4

• Check, if the path D:\ is available and if you have write access to that folder, or choose an alternative path.
• If the section [Diagnostics] already exists in the CAN.ini, adapt the parameters and/or activate the corresponding lines.
• Save and close the CAN.ini file.

Now you can start the measurement and reproduce the error case. When the issue has been reproduced, stop the measurement and close CANoe/CANalyzer, so that the DTL logfiles are fully written to disk.

After the test, delete the section [Diagnostics] from the CAN.ini file, or comment out the corresponding lines (the line has to start with a semicolon).

B) If CANoe is running in distributed mode (e.g. using a VN89xx Interface or RT Rack / VT System) 

1. Activate the internal diagnostic logging according to the used CANoe version: 

1.1. For CANoe 18 or newer

• Close all open CANoe/CANalyzer processes.
• Since CANoe/CANalyzer version 16 the Vector Tool Manager (for CANoe/CANalyzer, vTESTstudio and vVIRTUALtarget) is additionally installed.
  Open the Vector Tool Manager from the Windows start menu (if you do not have CANoe/CANalyzer 16 installed, you can download the Vector Tool Manager from here).
• Open the CAN.ini file for the corresponding CANoe/CANalyzer version via the context menu Edit .ini files | Edit CAN.ini.
  
• Search for the section [Diagnostics] in the CAN.ini.
• If there is no section [Diagnostics] in the CAN.ini yet, add the following part at the end of the CAN.ini file:
  [Diagnostics]

  ; Set the location of the log file for Anlyz
  DTLLogFile=D:\UserFiles\DTLAnlyzLog.txt
  ; the RT path must be valid also on the VN891x
  DTLLogFileRT=D:\UserFiles\DTLRTLog.txt
  ; Detailed logging configuration is available to RT only at the moment!
  ; Logging level, default 2 (Info)
  DTLLogLevelRT=4

• If the section [Diagnostics] already exists in the CAN.ini, adapt the parameters and/or activate the corresponding lines.
• Save and close the CAN.ini file.

1.2 For CANoe versions until version 17 SP5

• Open CANoe/CANalyzer and check the configured variant of the RT kernel in the global options:
  
• Close all open CANoe/CANalyzer processes.
• Since CANoe/CANalyzer version 16 the Vector Tool Manager (for CANoe/CANalyzer, vTESTstudio and vVIRTUALtarget) is additionally installed.
  Open the Vector Tool Manager from the Windows start menu (if you do not have CANoe/CANalyzer 16 installed, you can download the Vector Tool Manager from here).
• Open the CAN.ini file for the corresponding CANoe/CANalyzer version via the context menu Edit .ini files | Edit CAN.ini.
  
• Search for the section [Diagnostics] in the CAN.ini.
• If there is no section [Diagnostics] in the CAN.ini yet, add the following part at the end of the CAN.ini file:

  [Diagnostics]
  ; Set the location of the log file for Anlyz
  DTLLogFile=C:\CANrtk\Exec64\SynchronizedFiles\UserFiles\DTLAnlyzLog.txt
  ; the RT path must be valid also on the VN891x
  DTLLogFileRT=C:\CANrtk\Exec64\SynchronizedFiles\UserFiles\DTLRTLog.txt
  ; Detailed logging configuration is available to RT only at the moment!
  ; Logging level, default 2 (Info)
  DTLLogLevelRT=4

• The configured paths are valid for a 64-bit RT Kernel. If you are using a 32-bit RT-Kernel, use C:\CANrtk\Exec32 instead of C:\CANrtk\Exec64.
• If the section [Diagnostics] already exists in the CAN.ini, adapt the parameters and/or activate the corresponding lines.
• Save and close the CAN.ini file.

2. Afterwards update the modified configuration file onto the RT Rack / VT System

• Open the Vector Tool Platform (VTP): 
  
• In the VTP update the RT kernel on the RT device (doing this the modified CAN.ini file will be transferred to the RT device):
  
• Add a dummy file as User File (this has to be done in order to create the User Files folder on the RT device):
  
• Restart the RT kernel by unchecking Configure selected device as RT server and then check it again:
  
  When you now start the measurement, the DTLRTLog.txt should be displayed as User File additional to the Dummy.txt file:
   

3. Reproduce the error situation

• Run the CANoe/CANalyzer measurement.
• After the reproduction of the diagnostic issue stop the measurement but do NOT close CANoe/CANalyzer.
• In the Vector Tool Platform dialog, save the DTLRTLog.txt.
• Close CANoe/CANalyzer (only then the DTLAnlyzLog.txt file is completed).

4. Deactivate the internal diagnostic logging

• Do not forget to deactivate the logging:
  • Open the CAN.ini file.
  • Delete the whole section [Diagnostics] with all its keys from the CAN.ini file, or comment out the corresponding lines (the line has to start with a semicolon).
  • Save the CAN.ini file.
  • Open the VTP and update the RT kernel on the RT device.